Egypt Family Holiday

Tour a land of Feluccas and Pharaohs and witness Egypt’s most iconic sites

Uncover the ancient mysteries and modern marvels of Egypt and see why this classic destination inspires millions of travellers each year. With an action-packed itinerary that is purpose built for families, this authentic Egypt experience blends all the must-see highlights with plenty of adventurous, off the beaten-track activities. So whether you're cruising the Nile in a Felucca, sitting down to dinner with a Nubian family or hopping on a camel, this relaxing, exciting and always enlightening family tour of Egypt is sure to fill the photo album and keep you reminiscing around the dinner table for years to come.

Why you'll love this trip

Egypt is home to some of the world's most amazing ancient icons. Explore the Pyramids, Sphinx and Valley of the Kings with expert local guides

There are so many chances to interact with the locals and experience their culture. Lose yourself in Cairo's colourful Khan al-Khalili bazaar and dine with Nubian village folk in a house in Aswan

Sleep under the stars, feast on hearty cuisine and be dazzled by the riverside scenery on a felucca sailing trip down the Nile

The overnight train from Cairo to Aswan is a fun activity for the whole family, with comfortable sleeping quarters and good food – not to mention the thrill of waking up in an exciting new destination

An Egypt adventure wouldn't be complete without a donkey ride, and you'll also travel by horse and cart to Karnak – sure to be a hit with the young ones

Finishing in Hurghada, you have plenty of time to unwind at the end of your adventure. Snorkel the coral reefs of the Red Sea or simply relax on the beach

Is this trip right for you?

There is a fair amount of walking involved in exploring the pyramids, and it can get very hot in the summer. Be sure your family has appropriate clothing, sun protection and plenty of water to drink.

Evenings can get quite cool, so it's best to bring warm clothes too. Wearing layers is the best way to deal with the disparity in day and night temperatures.

Cruising down the Nile on a felucca is an amazing experience, but keep in mind that facilities will be basic. You'll sleep outside under the stars on a simple mattress. There is a nice clean toilet on board.

Gallery

Itinerary

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Egypt. Wonderfully chaotic and always colourful, Cairo is an intriguing mix of the modern and ancient. You will meet your group and leader at a welcome meeting at 6pm tonight. For those who arrive early and have free time, there are plenty of things to see and do. Travel along the river by felucca, head out to explore the markets, or, if the hustle and bustle of the city is too much, catch the metro into the oldest part of the city, the Coptic Christian sector. The latter is a haven of peace and quiet, with narrow cobbled streets and beautiful old churches.

Accommodation

Novotel Cairo El Borg or similar (1 night)

Optional Activities

Urban Adventures - Islamic Cairo in Depth Tour - USD64

Urban Adventures - Saqqara and Memphis - USD73

Urban Adventures - Treasures and Tut Tour - USD65

Meals Included

Explore the amazing Pyramids of Giza which have stood tall for 4,500 years. Afterwards, make your way to the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world's great collections of antiquities. Wander the treasure-filled halls of the museum, and be sure to check out the Mummies Hall (optional) for a close encounter with some of the country’s most important queens and pharaohs. You'll have plenty of time to explore the sites today (approximately 3 hours for the pyramids and 3 hours for the museum). In the evening you will board an overnight train to the southern city of Aswan (approximately 13 hours).

Accommodation

Overnight sleeper train (1 night)

Included Activities

Cairo - The Egyptian Museum

Cairo - Pyramids and Sphinx

Optional Activities

Cairo -The Royal Mummy Room - EGP150

Meals Included

Arrive in Aswan in the morning. Here the Nile runs deep and fast between granite rocks as the desert encroaches on the river. Even to travellers in ancient times, Aswan was known as the legendary gateway to the kingdom of Nubia. Today it is still something of a frontier town, where the Arab Middle East meets black Africa. Visiting the packed bazaar is highly recommended – here you'll find exotic spices, carpets, leather goods and countless other wares. Enjoy the sights of donkey carts and men in flowing robes and turbans. In the afternoon there may be time to take a taxi out to visit the Temple of Isis at Philae (optional). There are many other sites to be seen around Aswan and your leader should be able to organise some excursions – perhaps a camel ride or a trip to the Unfinished Obelisk. In the evening you will take a trip across the river to a Nubian village and enjoy dinner at one of the local houses.

Accommodation

Pyramisa Isis Corniche hotel or similar (1 night)

Optional Activities

Aswan - Philae Temple - EGP100

Meals Included

Perhaps rise early to visit the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel (minimum of 4 people). Later in the day, you and your family will board feluccas (traditional wooden boats with broad canvas sails) to spend a day out on the Nile river and then a night under the stars. Watching the sun set across the Nile is unforgettable, and this part of the trip is sure to be a highlight. Your Nubian sailing crew will prepare all meals. While there's no cabin or enclosed section on the felucca, a canopy offers shade and protection from the elements. Conditions are basic, and you will sleep outside on the deck on a mattress. While blankets are provided, a sleeping sheet is recommended. There is a very clean toilet on board.

During the colder months (October to March) it can get very cold at night (as low as 5°C) so a sleeping bag is highly recommended. You can hire a sleeping bag locally in Cairo for UK£5 per sleeping bag. Please speak to your leader on Day 1 of the trip.

Accommodation

Overnight Felucca (1 night)

Optional Activities

Meals Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Special Information

Slight alterations to the Nile itinerary may be necessary throughout the year, depending on winds and currents. As the felucca is a sailing craft without any outboard engine, if there's no wind it won't travel very far!

If you chose to visit Abu Simbel, you will miss out on the mornings sailing on the felucca. Upon returning to Aswan (approximately 1-1.30pm), you will be dropped where the felucca is located at that time. Any travellers who do not visit Abu Simbel will enjoy a morning of felucca sailing.

This morning you will visit the temple at Kom Ombo. The temple is dedicated to two gods: Haroeris (Horus the elder) and the crocodile-headed Sobek, the Egyptian god of the Nile. Check out the many mummified crocodiles on display. On the east bank around Kom Ombo, reclaimed land is fed by canals to keep the desert at bay. It supports not only crops of sugar cane but also a large Nubian community displaced from their homeland by the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Transfer by bus to Luxor (approximately 4 hours), tracing the path of the Nile northward. Upon arrival you'll have time to look around the town's monuments and museum, and it may be possible to visit Karnak temple to witness the memorable sound and light show (optional) which relates its history in dramatic fashion.

Accommodation

Nile Valley Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Kom Ombo - Kom Ombo Temple

Optional Activities

Luxor - Sound and Light Show at Karnak (entrance only) - EGP200

Meals Included

Visit the ancient tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. Rising early, cross the Nile and drive to the secluded valley where 63 pharaohs were buried as part of their journey to the afterlife. In the company of a local guide you will explore (for approximately 2 hours) some of the exquisitely decorated tombs of these rulers of long ago. It is here that the burial site of the boy-king, Tutankhamun, discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922, can be found. This visit to the Valley of the Kings brings to life much of what you saw in the Egyptian Museum. If you'd like to organise a visit to King Tut's tomb today, this can be arranged with advance notice – ask your leader for details. On your way back to the river you can see the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's first female ruler, and you'll spend about an hour here. This afternoon you are free to explore Luxor or perhaps just relax by the hotel pool.

Accommodation

Nile Valley Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple

Luxor - Valley of the Kings (3 tombs)

Luxor- Donkey ride

Optional Activities

Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun - EGP200

Meals Included

Early this morning, take a horse-drawn carriage to the historic temple of Karnak (approximately 1 hour), which you will explore with a local guide. Explore the magnificent Karnak Temple, perhaps the most impressive of all the ancient Pharoahs' monumental works. In the afternoon, bid farewell to the Nile and drive east to Hurghada (approximately 5 hours). The green Nile valley is soon left behind as you head out into the barren Eastern Desert. Passing through rocky hills, the glittering waters of the Red Sea soon come into view and the rugged bulk of the Sinai Peninsula looms through the haze on the opposite shore. A vibrant beach resort, Hurghada is by no means a typical 'adventure destination', and snorkelling here is a great way to round off the trip.

Accommodation

Golden 5 Resort or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Luxor - Karnak Temple

Meals Included

Take to the waves this morning, heading to some offshore reefs where you can swim and snorkel to see the abundance of vividly coloured marine life that inhabit these waters. You'll have around four hours to explore this underwater world. The young ones will love this part of the trip.

Afterwards, enjoy some free time to relax. If you've had enough of the sea and sand, you might like to take this opportunity to explore town. In the northern part of town you'll find the proper Egyptian part of the city – this is where the souq is. It's a good place to mingle with the locals and get a sense of everyday life.

Accommodation

Golden 5 Resort or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Hurghada - Snorkelling trip

Meals Included

You adventure comes to an end. There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart your accommodation at any time. Please check the 'Finishing Point Hotel' section for checkout times and luggage storage possibilities.

Jump to a departure month

Important notes

Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.

Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.

A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.

Following recent safety incidents we recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Egypt before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. We have links to prominent government travel advisories and regular updates on issues affecting this trip on our Travel Alerts page - www.intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts

2019 TRIP ITINERARY CHANGES:
In 2019 this trip will become a 8 day itinerary as follows. Due to passenger feedback we will be dropping Hurghada from the itinerary, adding an additional day in Aswan and a return flight to Cairo. So the trip will start and finish in Cairo.
Day 1: Cairo- Arrival day
Day 2: Overnight train
Day 3: Aswan
Day 4: Aswan
Day 5: Overnight Felucca
Day 6: Luxor
Day 7: Cairo
Day 8: Cairo - Departure day

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Nora Lotter

Lucy Couper

Egypt Family Adventure was excellent fun. Although the kids were different in character, they all connected over this shared experience. The itinerary was fast paced and fun with lots of different experiences. Pools at the hotel for 'down time' was a hit! The Tour Leader was excellent, making the whole experience stress free and fun.

Review submitted 26 Apr 2018

Egypt Family Holiday trip reviews

Our Egypt Family Holiday trips score an average of 5 out of 5
based on 23 reviews in the last year.